Beitzah 4b

ביצה ד׳ ע״ב

Learn Beitzah 4b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Beitzah 4b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Eggs and fallen branches between Shabbat and יום טוב, and the two days of יום טוב in the Diaspora and on ראש השנה

Overview

This amud first closes the earlier argument about an egg laid on Shabbat when יום טוב comes right after it. Normally the הלכה follows רבי יוחנן against רב, but רבא taught three exceptions where we follow רב, and this egg case is one of them. Next, רבי יוחנן forbids burning branches that fell from a palm tree on Shabbat on the יום טוב that follows. He explains that, unlike the egg, permitting the wood would mislead people into burning wood that fell on יום טוב itself. רב מתנה then rules that branches which fell into an oven on יום טוב may be burned once a majority of prepared wood is added. The גמרא defends this ruling against three challenges: moving forbidden wood, deliberately cancelling a prohibition, and the view of רב אשי. The גמרא then turns to the two days of יום טוב in the Diaspora. רב permits an egg laid on one day to be eaten on the other, and רב אסי forbids it. רבי זירא and אביי argue over whether the second day is based on doubt, and the גמרא concludes that today it is kept as a protective custom of our fathers. Finally, רב and שמואל rule that for the two days of ראש השנה the egg is forbidden on both days, and the גמרא begins quoting a משנה about late witnesses, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (22)

1. ConclusionWhy the ruling follows רב in the egg case
2. StatementBranches that fell on Shabbat may not be burned on יום טוב
3. Challengeרבי יוחנן heads off a challenge from the egg
4. ResolutionWhy permitting the egg causes no confusion
5. ResolutionWhy permitting the wood would cause confusion
6. StatementFallen branches in an oven can be outnumbered by prepared wood
7. ChallengeBut he is moving forbidden wood
8. ResolutionThe majority makes it all permitted wood
9. ChallengeBut you may not cancel a prohibition on purpose
10. ResolutionDeliberate cancelling is only forbidden for Torah prohibitions
11. ChallengeHow does this work for רב אשי?
12. ResolutionThe forbidden wood is already burning
13. Statementרב and רב אסי on an egg laid on one of the two days
14. ChallengeDoes רב אסי treat both days as one holiness?
15. Resolutionרב אסי was unsure, so he was strict both ways
16. Proofרבי זירא supports רב אסי from today's practice
17. Proofאביי supports רב from the משנה about torches and messengers
18. Proofאביי's inference: without the doubt, only one day would be kept
19. ChallengeThen why do we keep two days today?
20. ResolutionA warning from ארץ ישראל: keep your fathers' custom
21. Statementרב and שמואל: an egg laid on one day of ראש השנה is forbidden on the other
22. ProofThe משנה about late witnesses for the new month